Introduction
If you are looking at doctoral programs at the University of Macau (UM), the 2027 intake deserves extra attention.
The university is climbing global rankings, expanding into a new cross-border campus, and restructuring its largest faculty. These three changes happening at the same time is unusual — and it makes this application cycle one of the most opportunity-rich in recent years.
Applications open on August 3, 2026. For anyone planning to apply for the 2027/2028 academic year, this date is the most important deadline marker for the next six months.
Application Rounds & Key Dates
UM runs a batch-based admissions system with both Fall and Spring entry points.
Fall 2027 (August entry) — the main intake, two rounds:
| Round | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Aug 3 – Oct 31, 2026 | Most slots, biggest scholarship pool |
| Round 2 | Nov 1, 2026 – Mar 13, 2027 | Limited slots for most programs |
| Extended (STEM) | Until Apr 30, 2027 | Civil Eng, CS, ECE, ME, Math only |
| Design PhD | Until May 15, 2027 | Industrial Design only |
Round 1 is the sweet spot. Most PhD scholarships require applying alongside your program application — miss this window and full funding opportunities drop significantly.
Spring 2027 (January entry):
| Round | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Round 3 | May 4 – Jul 31, 2026 | Limited programs, fewer slots |
If your goal is Fall 2027, get your application in before March 13, 2027. Design PhD applicants have until May 15. For everyone else, that March date is hard deadline you should treat seriously.
The Biggest Change: Faculty of Science & Technology Splits Into Three
Starting August 1, 2026, UM's Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) officially splits into three independent schools:
- School of Information
- School of Science
- School of Engineering
For the 2027/2028 academic year, these three schools will recruit doctoral students independently for the first time.
Programs affected:
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Electromechanical Engineering
- Mathematics
What this means for applicants:
More slots. One faculty becoming three almost certainly means expanded enrollment capacity. For STEM applicants, this could be a relatively favorable year to get in.
Clearer focus. Each school will reorganize its research priorities. Before applying, spend time looking at each school's research areas and find a supervisor whose work aligns with your background.
One more thing: UM's FST ran a summer research camp from July 7-9, 2026. This was effectively an early-round interview — participants who performed well received conditional offers before the formal system even opened. The university has already started screening.
PhD vs Professional Doctorates
UM offers two tracks:
Philosophy Doctor (PhD) — 3 to 4 years, research-focused. Available across Arts and Humanities, Business Administration, Education, Health Sciences, Law, and the newly restructured STEM schools.
Professional Doctorates — typically 3 years, industry-oriented:
| Program | Duration | Total Tuition (MOP) |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) | 3 years | 830,000 |
| Doctor of Education (EdD) | 3 years | 240,000 |
| Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) | 3 years | 240,000 |
| Design PhD (Industrial Design) | 4 years | 280,000 |
| Design PhD (Visual Communication) | 4 years | 280,000 |
DBA targets senior executives with branches in accounting, finance, management, and marketing. EdD suits experienced education professionals. DrPH requires a health sciences master's plus at least three years of full-time work experience. The Design PhD in Industrial Design is a new program starting its second year in 2027.
Admission Requirements & Language Proficiency
Three entry paths:
- General Entry: Master's degree holders (most common)
- Accelerated Entry: For current UM master's students only
- Direct Entry: Outstanding bachelor's graduates, skipping the master's
English proficiency (required if your prior degree was not taught in English):
| Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL (paper) | 550 |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 80 |
| IELTS | 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) |
| CET-6 | 430+ (accepted by some units — check your department) |
TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date and must be valid at the time of application.
The Hengqin Campus Advantage
Starting from the 2026/2027 academic year, UM's new campus in the Guangdong-Macau Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is fully operational. It comes with tiered classrooms, teaching labs, postgraduate offices, and high-performance GPU facilities. Two state key laboratory branches are already in use.
Programs available at Hengqin in 2027:
- Design PhD (Visual Communication Design)
- Design PhD (Industrial Design)
- Doctor of Public Health
- PhD in Business Administration (Business Analytics)
- PhD in Business Administration (Finance)
- PhD in Computer Science
- PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- PhD in Electromechanical Engineering
For students from mainland China, this is a practical advantage: no daily border crossing needed. Living in Hengqin costs significantly less than Macau-side accommodation, while the teaching quality, faculty, and degree accreditation are identical to the main campus.
Tuition Fees & Scholarships
Tuition (total program cost):
| Program | Total Tuition (MOP) |
|---|---|
| PhD (standard) | 150,000 (paid in 8 installments) |
| Design PhD | 280,000 |
| EdD / DrPH | 240,000 |
| DBA | 830,000 |
Scholarships:
- UM PhD Scholarship: MOP 20,000/month, up to 4 years
- UM PhD Teaching Research Assistant: MOP 12,500–14,000/month
Critical note: scholarship deadlines come much earlier than program deadlines. For 2027/2028, the scholarship application deadline is expected around mid-January 2027. If you want funding, submit your full application package in Round 1.
Student Visa for Macau
International students admitted to UM need to apply for a Special Authorization to Stay (Student Visa) from the Macau Public Security Police Force. This is separate from a mainland China visa — Macau operates its own immigration system.
Key steps:
- Receive admission offer and visa support documents from UM
- Apply for a Macau student visa at the nearest Chinese embassy/consulate (or in some cases, upon arrival)
- After entering Macau, register at the Entry-Exit Administration within the permitted period
- Complete temporary residence registration at local police station within 24 hours of moving into accommodation
Most international students enter Macau visa-free (30-90 days depending on nationality) and then convert to a student residence permit after registration at UM.
Conclusion
The 2027 PhD intake at University of Macau comes with more changes than any recent cycle — the FST split, the Hengqin campus going fully online, and the Design PhD entering its second year. These changes add up to more opportunities and more flexibility for applicants.
The key is getting the timeline right. Round 1 applications open August 3. Scholarship deadlines fall in January. The March 13 cutoff for most programs is firm. Mark these dates and start preparing now.